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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: stick · foot · ball · roll · pound · object · spell · field

  1. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. object — an aim
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. roll — a list
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. foot — a measure
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. object — to protest
  12. spell — letters
  13. object — a thing
  14. pound — for dogs
  15. ball — a dance
  16. field — farmland
  17. ball — a great time
  18. field — a subject
  19. spell — magic
  20. roll — a cake
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. spell — a short time
  24. field — for sport

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com